The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) and its members are eager to ensure the independent aftermarket knows that they are all very much ‘open for business’ during the current lockdown.

The sudden first COVID-19 lockdown inevitably sprung major disruption across the aftermarket and caused some supply difficulties. OESAA says that this time around it’s different and they are adopting a united approach, in collaboration with leading parts distributors, to send out a message that the aftermarket is ‘open for business’. Workshops remain busy and the supply chain has worked tirelessly for many months to prepare resilient COVID-secure systems and processes to cope with the demand for components.

“OESAA members, along with our distributor partners, are absolutely committed to staying open to support the aftermarket during the current lockdown, which everyone hopes will end soon in early December,” said Nigel Morgan, Chairman of OESAA. “We want to reassure all vehicle repairers of the continuity of supply of components following the disruption caused by the first lockdown. We also urgently need garages to in turn reassure vehicle owners that they are definitely allowed, under lockdown rules, to take their vehicles in to workshops for necessary repairs and servicing.”

OESAA has already offered extensive support with thousands of ‘Back on Track’ packs being delivered since summer, helping garages right around Ireland and the develop safe working environments.

A short video from OESAA spokesman and Garage Inspector Andy Savva can be viewed or downloaded from the OESAA website at https://www.oe-suppliers.org/, which includes contributions from Steve Richardson at Alliance Automotive, Andy Hamilton of Euro Car Parts and Neil Croxson from The Parts Alliance.

OESAA is keen to continue its aftermarket stimulation program during these extraordinary times and will announce its next major phase of support for garages imminently.